The Maple Leafs made long-term commitments to Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Is it enough to remake the look and feel of Toronto's defense? The Toronto Maple Leafs made headlines Friday morning when the club opted to sign their 2024 first-round pick (31st overall), Ben Danford, to a three-year, entry-level contract. Shortly after the announcement, the Madoc, Ontario native took to his personal Instagram account, ‘bendanford77,’ [https://www.instagram.com/bendanford77/] to share his excitement with Leafs nation. He expressed his honor in representing the organization for years to come. "I am honored to sign my first NHL contract with the @MapleLeafs,” Danford wrote. “Thank you to everyone who helped me along the way." [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C-LCY8Hu483[/embed] The 18-year-old, right-handed defenseman grew up a fan of the organization, revealing that Phil Kessel was the name on the back of his first-ever Maple Leafs jersey – making this moment a dream come true. After being drafted, Danford attended the Leafs’ development camp in July, where he worked alongside Stanley Cup Champion and former Leafs defenseman, Jake Muzzin [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/hes-kind-of-the-guy-i-want-to-learn-and-model-myself-after-maple-leafs-prospects-cade-webber-and-ben-danford-getting-help-at-development-camp-from-jake-muzzin]. Reflecting on the experience, Danford said, “Everything went well and it hasn’t really sunk in yet, to be honest.” Playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals in the 2023-24 campaign, the sophomore defenseman recorded a goal and a career-high 32 assists in 64 regular season games. He added four goals and six assists in 21 playoff appearances. Standing 6-foot-1, Danford is viewed as a shutdown defenseman with strong shot-blocking and puck-moving abilities. While he is recognized for his defense-first style, he considers himself a 200-foot player with offensive potential. Danford will likely return to the OHL for his third season with the Generals but is expected to participate in the Leafs’ training camp. Additionally, he is anticipated to join the rookie showcase in Montreal at the Bell Centre, scheduled for the weekend of September 15-16. Following his first development camp in July, Danford said, “I’m really looking forward to my first training camp. You want to stay around for as long as you can, take it all in, and be around those pros for as long as you can because they’re there for a reason. Feed off them and learn from them. I think that will be really beneficial for me.” Danford finished the 2023-24 season with a plus-27 rating and will continue to rise as one of the Leafs’ top defensive prospects alongside Cade Webber, Noah Chadwick, Mikko Kokkonen, and Topi Niemela. With plenty of time to develop, he has shown significant growth over the past season. While we don't know exactly when it will happen, one thing is certain: Danford has the passion to wear the blue and white. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Maple Leafs Sign 2024 First-Round NHL Draft Pick Ben Danford to Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract, What's Next? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-sign-2024-first-round-nhl-draft-ben-danford-to-three-year-entry-level-contract-whats-next] Maple Leafs Forward Max Domi Creates Instagram for His New Kitten: See the Adorable Posts [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-forward-max-domi-creates-instagram-for-his-new-kitten-see-the-adorable-posts] 'I'm Looking Forward To It All': Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Excited to Play Alongside Joseph Woll in Pressure-Filled Toronto Market [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/im-looking-forward-to-it-all-maple-leafs-anthony-stolarz-excited-to-play-alongside-joseph-woll-in-pressure-filled-toronto-market] News from THN.com NHL Free Agency: A Handful of Needle-Moving RFAs Are Still Waiting [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-free-agency-a-handful-of-needle-moving-rfas-are-still-waiting] Can Canada's Coaching Powerhouse Solve the Goaltending Question for 4 Nations Face-Off? [https://thehockeynews.com/news/can-canadas-coaching-powerhouse-solve-the-goaltending-question-for-4-nations-face-off] NHL Rumor Roundup: Latest On the Carolina Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-rumor-roundup-latest-on-the-carolina-hurricanes-and-winnipeg-jets]
